Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.178
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13.178.1
इमे वै मानवा लोके भृशं मांसेषु गृद्धिनः ।
विसृज्य विविधान्भक्ष्यान्महारक्षोगणा इव ॥ १३.१७८.१ ॥
In this world these men are greatly greedy for flesh, like hosts of great rākṣasas who abandon all kinds of various foods.
13.178.2
अपूपान्विविधाकाराञ्शाकानि विविधानि च ।
पादपान्रससंयुक्तान्न चेच्छन्ति यथाऽऽमिषम् ॥ १३.१७८.२ ॥
Cakes of various shapes, many kinds of vegetables, and tree-fruits full of juice—these they do not desire as they desire flesh.
13.178.3
तत्र मे बुद्धिरत्रेव विषये परिमुह्यते ।
न मन्ये रसतः किञ्चिन्मांसतोऽस्तीति किञ्चन ॥ १३.१७८.३ ॥
In this matter my understanding here becomes bewildered; I do not think that anything is better from taste, nor that anything is better from flesh.
13.178.4
तदिच्छामि गुणाञ्श्रोतुं मांसस्याभक्षणे प्रभो ।
भक्षणे चैव ये दोषास्तांश्चैव पुरुषर्षभ ॥ १३.१७८.४ ॥
Therefore, O lord, I wish to hear the merits of abstaining from flesh, and the faults in eating it too, O bull among men.
13.178.5
सर्वसत्त्वेन धर्मज्ञ यथावदिह धर्मतः ।
किं वा भक्ष्यमभक्ष्यं वा सर्वमेतद्वदस्व मे ॥ १३.१७८.५ ॥
O knower of dharma, with compassion toward all beings, tell me rightly, according to dharma, all of this: what is fit to eat and what is unfit.
13.178.6
यथैतद्यादृशं चैव गुणा ये चास्य वर्जने ।
दोषा भक्षयतो येऽपि तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १३.१७८.६ ॥
What kind of thing this is, the merits in abstaining from it, and the faults in the one who eats it—tell me these, O grandsire.
13.178.7
सर्वमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत ।
न मांसात्परमं किञ्चिद्रसतो विद्यते भुवि ॥ १३.१७८.७ ॥
O mighty-armed descendant of Bharata, all that you say is true. Yet on earth there is nothing higher than meat in taste.
13.178.8
क्षतक्षीणाभितप्तानां ग्राम्यधर्मरतात्मनाम् ।
अध्वना कर्शितानां च न मांसाद्विद्यते परम् ॥ १३.१७८.८ ॥
For those who are wounded, wasted, afflicted, whose minds delight in worldly duties, and who are worn down by travel, there is nothing higher than meat.
13.178.9
सद्यो वर्धयति प्राणान्पुष्टिमग्र्यां दधाति च ।
नाशो भक्षणदोषः स्याद्दानमेव सदा मतम् ॥ १३.१७८.९ ॥
It at once increases the vital breaths and bestows the highest nourishment. The fault of eating is destruction; therefore giving is always held to be best.
13.178.10
क्षुधितानां द्विजानां च सर्वेषां चापि जीवितम् ।
दत्त्वा भवति पूतात्मा श्रद्धया लोभवर्जितः ॥ १३.१७८.१० ॥
Having given life to the hungry twice-born and to all, with faith and free from greed, a man becomes pure in soul.
13.178.11
शिक्षयन्ति न याचन्ते दर्शयन्ति स्वमूर्तिभिः ।
अवस्थेयमदानस्य मा भूदेवं भवानिति।
दानाद्यः सुशुचिर्मांसं पुनर्नैव च भक्षयेत् ॥ १३.१७८.११ ॥
They teach, they do not beg, they show by their own forms: 'May this condition of not giving not befall you.' One who is purified by giving should not eat meat again.
13.178.12
न भक्ष्योऽभ्याधिकः कश्चिन्मांसादस्ति परंतप ।
विवर्जने तु बहवो गुणाः कौरवनन्दन।
ये भवन्ति मनुष्याणां तान्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥ १३.१७८.१२ ॥
O scorcher of foes, there is nothing fitter to eat than meat. But, O joy of the Kurus, in abstaining from it there are many virtues for men; hear them as I tell them.
13.178.13
स्वमांसं परमांसेन यो वर्धयितुमिच्छति ।
नास्ति क्षुद्रतरस्तस्मात्स नृशंसतरो नरः ॥ १३.१७८.१३ ॥
There is no baser man than one who wishes to increase his own flesh with the flesh of another; that man is most cruel.
13.178.14
न हि प्राणात्प्रियतरं लोके किञ्चन विद्यते ।
तस्माद्दयां नरः कुर्याद्यथाऽऽत्मनि तथा परे ॥ १३.१७८.१४ ॥
Nothing in the world is dearer than life itself; therefore a man should show compassion to others as he would to himself.
13.178.15
शुक्राच्च तात सम्भूतिर्मांसस्येह न संशयः ।
भक्षणे तु महान्दोषो मलेन स हि कल्प्यते ॥ १३.१७८.१५ ॥
Dear one, there is no doubt that flesh arises from semen; but eating it is a great fault, for it is regarded as impure like excrement.
13.178.16
अहिंसालक्षणो धर्म इति वेदविदो विदुः ।
यदहिंस्रं भवेत्कर्म तत्कुर्यादात्मविन्नरः ॥ १३.१७८.१६ ॥
Those who know the Vedas declare that dharma is marked by non-violence; a man who knows the self should perform that action which is non-violent.
13.178.17
पितृदैवतयज्ञेषु प्रोक्षितं हविरुच्यते ।
विधिना वेददृष्टेन तद्भुक्त्वेह न दुष्यति ॥ १३.१७८.१७ ॥
In sacrifices to the fathers and the gods, what is sprinkled is called an oblation; one who eats it according to the rule prescribed by the Veda is not defiled here.
13.178.18
यज्ञार्थे पशवः सृष्टा इत्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः ।
अतोऽन्यथा प्रवृत्तानां राक्षसो विधिरुच्यते ॥ १३.१७८.१८ ॥
The scripture also says that animals were created for sacrifice; therefore the practice of those who act otherwise is called the rule of demons.
13.178.19
क्षत्रियाणां तु यो दृष्टो विधिस्तमपि मे शृणु ।
वीर्येणोपार्जितं मांसं यथा भुञ्जन्न दुष्यति ॥ १३.१७८.१९ ॥
Hear from me also the rule seen for kṣatriyas: one who eats meat won by valour is not defiled.
13.178.20
आरण्याः सर्वदैवत्याः सर्वशः प्रोक्षिता मृगाः ।
अगस्त्येन पुरा राजन्मृगया येन पूज्यते ॥ १३.१७८.२० ॥
All wild deer belong to all gods; long ago Agastya fully consecrated them, O king, and so the hunt is honoured.
13.178.21
रक्षणार्थाय भूतानां हिंस्रान्हन्यान्मृगान्पुनः ।
नात्मानमपरित्यज्य मृगया नाम विद्यते ॥ १३.१७८.२१ ॥
For the protection of beings one should slay savage beasts, and again deer too; but without abandoning oneself there is no such thing as the hunt.
13.178.22
समतामुपसङ्गम्य रूपं हन्यान्न वा नृप ।
अतो राजर्षयः सर्वे मृगयां यान्ति भारत।
न हि लिप्यन्ति पापेन न चैतत्पातकं भुवि ॥ १३.१७८.२२ ॥
Having attained equanimity, whether one slays the form or not, O king — therefore all royal sages go to the hunt, O Bhārata. They are not smeared by sin, and on earth this is not a transgression.
13.178.23
न ह्यतः सदृशं किञ्चिदिह लोके परत्र च ।
यत्सर्वेष्विह भूतेषु दया कौरवन्दन ॥ १३.१७८.२३ ॥
There is nothing in this world or the next equal to this: compassion toward all beings, O joy of the Kurus.
13.178.24
न भयं विद्यते जातु नरस्येह दयावतः ।
दयावतामिमे लोकाः परे चापि तपस्विनाम् ॥ १३.१७८.२४ ॥
A compassionate person here never has fear. These worlds belong to the compassionate, and the worlds beyond to the ascetics.
13.178.25
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो यो ददाति दयापरः ।
अभयं तस्य भूतानि ददतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥ १३.१७८.२५ ॥
He who gives fearlessness to all beings, intent on compassion — we have heard that beings give fearlessness to him.
13.178.26
क्षतं च स्खलितं चैव पतितं क्लिन्नमाहतम् ।
सर्वभूतानि रक्षन्ति समेषु विषमेषु च। ॥ १३.१७८.२६ ॥
The wounded, the stumbling, the fallen, the drenched, the struck — all beings protect them, in level places and in rough places alike.
13.178.27
नैनं व्यालमृगा घ्नन्ति न पिशाचा न राक्षसाः ।
मुच्यते भयकालेषु मोक्षयेद्यो भये परान् ॥ १३.१७८.२७ ॥
Fierce beasts do not kill him, nor do goblins or demons. In times of danger he is freed who frees others caught in danger.
13.178.28
प्राणदानात्परं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।
न ह्यात्मनः प्रियतरं किञ्चिदस्तीह निश्चितम् ॥ १३.१७८.२८ ॥
No gift greater than the gift of life has been or will be; for indeed there is nothing here dearer to oneself, that is certain.
13.178.29
अनिष्टं सर्वभूतानां मरणं नाम भारत ।
मृत्युकाले हि भूतानां सद्यो जायति वेपथुः ॥ १३.१७८.२९ ॥
Death, O Bhārata, is undesired by all beings. At the time of death, trembling arises at once in beings.
13.178.30
व्याधिजन्मजरादुःखैर्नित्यं संसारसागरे ।
जन्तवः परिवर्तन्ते मरणादुद्विजन्ति च ॥ १३.१७८.३० ॥
Through the sufferings of disease, birth and old age, living beings ceaselessly revolve in the ocean of transmigration, and they shrink in dread from death.
13.178.31
गर्भवासेषु पच्यन्ते क्षाराम्लकटुकै रसैः ।
मूत्रस्वेदपुरीषाणां परुषैर्भृशदारुणैः ॥ १३.१७८.३१ ॥
In the dwellings of the womb they are cooked with alkaline, sour and pungent juices, with the harsh and most dreadful fluids of urine, sweat and excrement.
13.178.32
जाताश्चाप्यवशास्तत्र च्छिद्यमानाः पुनःपुनः ।
हन्यमानाश्च दृश्यन्ते विवशा मांसगृद्धिनः ॥ १३.१७८.३२ ॥
Born there, they are helpless, cut and struck again and again, and they are seen powerless, greedy for flesh.
13.178.33
कुम्भीपाके च पच्यन्ते तां तां योनिमुपागताः ।
आक्रम्य मार्यमाणाश्च त्रास्यन्त्यन्ये पुनःपुनः ॥ १३.१७८.३३ ॥
In the Kumbhīpāka they are cooked, having entered each and every womb; others, attacked and killed, are terrified again and again.
13.178.34
नात्मनोऽस्ति प्रियतरः पृथिवीमनुसृत्य ह ।
तस्मात्प्राणिषु सर्वेषु दयावानात्मवान्भवेत् ॥ १३.१७८.३४ ॥
There is nothing dearer to oneself, searching the whole earth; therefore one should be compassionate and self-controlled toward all living beings.
13.178.35
सर्वमांसानि यो राजन्यावज्जीवं न भक्षयेत् ।
आश्वासं विपुलं स्थानं प्राप्नुयान्नात्र संशयः ॥ १३.१७८.३५ ॥
O king, whoever does not eat any kind of flesh as long as he lives attains great security and a lofty state; of this there is no doubt.
13.178.36
ये भक्षयन्ति मांसानि भूतानां जीवितैषिणाम् ।
भक्ष्यन्ते तेऽपि भूतैस्तैरिति मे नास्ति संशयः ॥ १३.१७८.३६ ॥
Those who eat the flesh of beings who desire to live will themselves be eaten by those same beings; of this there is no doubt in my mind.
13.178.37
मां स भक्षयते यस्माद्भक्षयिष्ये तमप्यहम् ।
एतन्मांसस्य मांसत्वमनुबुद्ध्यस्व भारत ॥ १३.१७८.३७ ॥
He who eats me, I too shall eat him. Understand thus, O Bhārata, the flesh-ness of this flesh.
13.178.38
घातको वध्यते नित्यं तथा बध्येत बन्धकः ।
आक्रोष्टा क्रुध्यते राजन्द्वेष्टा द्वेष्यत्वमाप्नुते ॥ १३.१७८.३८ ॥
The killer is always slain, and the binder likewise is bound. O king, the reviler is angered against, and the hater becomes one to be hated.
13.178.39
येनयेन शरीरेण यद्यत्कर्म करोति यः ।
तेनतेन शरीरेण तत्तत्फलमुपाश्नुते ॥ १३.१७८.३९ ॥
With whatever body a person performs whatever action, with that same body he obtains its fruit.
13.178.40
अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाऽहिंसा परो दमः ।
अहिंसा परमं दानमहिंसा परमं तपः ॥ १३.१७८.४० ॥
Non-violence is the highest dharma, and non-violence is the highest self-restraint. Non-violence is the highest gift, and non-violence is the highest austerity.
13.178.41
अहिंसा परमं मिमहिंसा परमं सुखम् ।
सर्वयज्ञेषु वा दानं सर्वतीर्थेषु वा प्लुतम्। ॥ १३.१७८.४१ ॥
Non-violence is the supreme happiness; non-violence is the supreme happiness. Gift in all sacrifices, or bathing in all sacred fords (is not equal to non-violence).
13.178.42
सर्वदानफलं वाऽपि नैतत्तुल्यमहिंसया ।
अहिंसस्य तपोऽक्षय्यमहिंस्रो जयते सदा। ॥ १३.१७८.४२ ॥
The fruit of all gifts is not equal to this non-violence. The austerity of the non-violent is imperishable; the non-violent one always conquers.
13.178.43
अहिंस्रः सर्वभूतानां यथा माता यथा पिता ।
एतत्फलमहिंसायां भूयश्च कुरुपुङ्गव। ॥ १३.१७८.४३ ॥
He who is harmless toward all beings is like a mother and like a father. This, bull of the Kurus, is the fruit of non-violence, and more besides.
13.178.44
न हि शक्या गुणा वक्तुमपि वर्षशतैरपि ॥ १३.१७८.४४ ॥
Its qualities cannot be told, not even in hundreds of years.